Minnesota Twins Looking To Be Bright Spot in 2009

With Major League Baseball opening in just a couple days, Minnesotans are looking for the Twins to be the difference in a some what below average sports year. Since 2007, when the Minnesota Twins fought back from 12.5 games to win the American League Central, Minnesotans haven't had much to celebrate.

Yes, Minnesota got to quietly talking in 2008, when when the Minnesota Vikings surprised every one to win the NFC North Division with a 10-6 record but also remember they got kicked out of the playoffs.

Loosing to the Philadelphia Eagles in a wild card game at the Metrodome to end a season that was up and down. As any Minnesotan would say: "That's that!" 

Even the state of hockey has been limited to disappointment with the Minnesota Wild who are in a meezly third place in the Northwestern Division. This a year after wining their division only to be ousted by the Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.

This season has been a dismal injury plagued disappointment. Along with speculation that their star player Marion Gaborik was playing his last year with the team.

Basketball in this state is at rock bottom with our Minnesota Timberwolves currently in last place in the Northwest division with a terrible record of 21-54. This young group of players led by coach Kevin McHale has struggled all season long but airing commercials with the slogan "See what they can do!"

We've seen what they can do, and this team is having trouble selling tickets let alone winning a game. It's loosing streak after loosing streak for this young bunch.

In any case, the state of Minnesota hasn't been able to get excited about much involving sports. And with the economy the way it is, Minnesota needs a bright spot.

Enter the Minnesota Twins, or "The Boys of Summer" as we like to call them, bringing in the great ol' game of baseball and warm spring weather along with them. Coming off a surprising second place finish last year in the AL Central, the Twins are ready to prove critics wrong again.

As critics predicted before the season started, the Twins were not supposed to be in contention for their division last year. Yet they proved them wrong fighting down to the last game of the season for the division championship against the Chicago White Sox. Only to loose that game in a nerve wracking 1-0 Nine inning "dog fight."

Entering the 2009 season, the small market Twins hope to surprise critics once again and prove that their farm system is still working.

They also have the players and talent to to succeed putting emphasis in their key players Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer and the likes of young-speedy Carlos Gomez. The Twins also have a new stadium (Target Stadium) ready to open in 2010 to look forward to.

However, only time will tell if the Twins can be the great Minnesotan ball club that this state has come to know and love.